Mike Kresteva is an attorney and an influential figure in Illinois politics.
Alicia first encounters him as a member of the state electoral commission, when he blackmails her. He becomes the Republican candidate for governor in the 2012 election against Peter Florrick. At the beginning of the campaign, he lies about Alicia trying to stop the Blue ribbon panel's report that could incriminate her husband. Later he lies about Zach Florrick's drug problem. Eventually Peter wins governorship, with help of Alicia's last minute Charlie Rose interview, in which Alicia told that Kresteva is struggling with alcoholism.